Telephone dialing instrument



Sept. 26, 1944. Q COLLOPY ETAL 2,358,791

TELEPHONE DIALING INSTRUMENT Filed March 20, 1943 a NVENTORS:

WWW I Patented Sept. 26, 1944 TELEPHONE DIALINGINSTRUMENT Ernest C. Collopy and Carl J. Collopy,

New

Bedlord, Mas

Application March 20, 1943, Serial No. 479,930 a 2 Claims. (oi. 161-19) Our invention relates to an instrument for'use in operating existing dial telephones and for timing the calls that are made.

The invention has for its object to provide an instrument of the class described which will be of simple, emcient and inexpensive construction; which can be conveniently carried in a pocket of the clothing without injury to the latter and which preferably is constructed for use also as a writing implement.

To these ends we have provided a telephone dialing and timing instrument which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, may be constructed as hereinafter set forth, the several novel features of the invention being separately pointed out and defined in the claims at the close of the following description. It is to be understood, however, that the illustrated embodiments of the invention are to be taken as preferred examples of the latter and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of the parts of the device may be resorted to without departing from our invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a telephone dialing and timing instrument constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the instrument shown in Fig. 1, and with the addition of a cap applied to one end thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line :c1' of Figs. 1 and 5.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a telephone dialing and timing instrument embodying a third form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the instrument shown in Fig. 5.

Each embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises an exteriorly and interiorly cylindroidal tubular member I made from rigid transparent material such as "Lucite, glass or the like and containing a body of granular material i i such as sand. This member III is divided interiorly near its middle by an integral partition I2 that is formed with a central aperture or passage i3, thus providing two chambers I4 and I5, one at each side of the partition whose inner ends are connected by the constricted passage or port l3.

when member i0 is made. from Lucite or the like as shown in the drawing a round bar ofsaid material of the desired length is bored longitudinally from the opposite ends thereof to provide the chambers i4 and I and the integral partition i2 after which the latter is drilled through to provide the aperture or passage I3. If desired, however, the member ID may be produced in completed form within a mold while the material thereof is in plastic condition.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs, 1, 2 and 3 the outerend of the chamber i4 is closed by a stopper i6 which is the reduced end portion of the body or shaft ll of a magazine pencil of otherwise ordinary construction,

said reduced end portion being telescopicallyfltted into the end of member ID and secured in position by means of cement or otherwise. Also, in this embodiment of the invention, ,the outer end of the chamber .l5 is closed by a stopper 18 which is a cylindrical boss forming an integral part of an exposed spherical or globular rubber eraser element I! of greater diameter than boss [8 and also of greater diameter than that of the holes provided in the dials of existing dial telephones now in common use.

A predetermined quantity of sand or other fluid or granular material II is provided within the tubular member in so that when the device with the loaded chamber uppermost is held in a vertical position a predetermined length of time, three minutes, for example, will be required for all of said material to flow through the aperture I3 into the lower chamber. For measuring fractions of this three minute period of time the member In is marked with scales 20'and 2i, one opposite chamber l4 and the other opposite chamber I5.

The magazine pencil section I! is preferably provided with a removable metal cap 22, Fig, 2, that is telescopically fitted thereon as shown and frictionally held in place. This cap is made with a spherical outer end portion or head 23 which is of the same diameter as the spherical rubber head l9. Thus either end of the instrument may be applied to the telephone dial when the latter is to be operated and no time is lost at the start of the timing period in waiting while the material is transferred from one chamber to the other as often would be required if the instrument were provided with but one head IS,

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig, 4 is constructed the same as above described with the exception that the closure i8a including its spherical outer end portion lSa may b made of any suitable rigid material such as Lucite, hard rubber or the like, and also with the exception that the closure l6a for the opposite end of the tubular member III is a part of the body i 1a of a fountain pen of otherwise ordinary construction. This form of the invention may also be provided with a cap like that shown at 22 in Fig. 2, adapted to be telescopically applied to the writing implement iia.

In the iorm of our invention illustrated in Figs.

,5 and 6 the body of fluid granular material it is confined within the transparent tubular member it thereoi by two closure members 68a telescopically fitted within the opposite ends of said member, said closure members having exposed spherical outer end portions its which, like the corresponding elements of Figs. 2 and 4, are of greater diameter than the holes of the telephone dials now in use.

It is true of each of the above described forms of the invention that the elongate transparent tubular timing member it constitutes either the entire handle of the device (Figs. 5 and 6), or a Y substantial portion thereof (Figs. 1-4), and is grasped by the hand of the user while writing, erasing, dialing or timing. It is also true that in each instance the end closure elements of the tutition and whose exterior is provided with two scales that are graduated in time units; one or said scales being opposite one of said chambers and the other scale being opposite the other chamber; a predetermined volume of fluid material within said member, and two closure ele- -ments telescopically coupled respectively to the bular timing member It are constructed to serve other purposes, while the spherical forms at their outer ends prevent injury to the pocket of the user's clothing within which the device may be carried while not in use.

When operating the dial of a telephone one of the spherical elements is seated within a hole of the telephone dial and as the latter i rotated by means of our device said spherical element is free to rock within said hole after the fashion of a ball and socket joint.

It will be clear that the length of time the telephone is used will be measured and indicated by th timing member it. Also, that a writing implement for use in making notes in connection with telephone call is always available when the device is constructed a shown in Figs. 1, 2 and d.

From the above description it will also be clear that the timing device may function simultaneously with the use of the device either for dialing or for writing and that at such times the movements and agitation of the device serve to faciliopposite ends of said member for confining said material within the latter, one of said closure elemerits having an exposed spherical outer end portion of greater diameter than the holes of the dials of existing telephones, and said'fluid material, the aperture of said partition, and said scales providin a timer for timing the use of a telephone.

2. A telephone dialing and timing instrument comprising an elongate transparent tubular handle member whose interior is divided near its middle into two chambers by-an apertured partition and whose exterior is provided with two scales that are graduated in time units, one of said scales being opposite one of said chambers and the other scale being opposite the other chamber; a predetermined volume of fluid material within said member, and two closure elements telescopically coupled respectively to the opposite ends of said member, for confining said material within the latter, each of said closure elements having an exposed spherical outer end portion of greater diameter than the holes of the dials of existing telephones, and said fluid material, th aperture of said partition, and said scales providing a timer for timing. the use of a telephone.

mnns'r C. COLLOPY. CARL J. COPY. 

